- Any pregnant woman may experience prenatal depression and anxiety. Let’s take a look at signs and symptoms, health conditions, and possible treatments for this common mental disorder.
- According to studies, up to 33% of women face psychiatric anxiety or depression during their pregnancy and after.
- Despite this, only about 20% of people seek care, and that therapy is frequently insufficient.
- Following the birth of the child, mothers should really be tested for depression at every one-two-three, and even six months.
Table of Contents
Before going to the management part, let’s have look at the 3 basic terms:
- Perinatal: pregnancy and the first year after giving birth.
- Prenatal refers to pregnancy.
- Postpartum: refers to the first year after giving birth.
Anxiety and/or depression impact up to 1 in 5 expectant mothers and their families during pregnancy and the first year after childbirth.
Risk Factors:
- Drug abuse
- Family history of mental illness
- Insufficient help from loved ones
- Distress about the child
- Complications with prior pregnancy or birth
- Marital or monetary issues
Thus, all influences that may raise the risk of stress after or during pregnancy.
1. What are perinatal mood and anxiety disorders?
Perinatal depression and anxiety are described as depression that occurs during pregnancy or within a year of delivery.
Depression is thought to be one of the most serious causes during and after birth, according to researchers.
These diseases, also known as perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, or PMADs, are the most common pregnancy and childbirth complications.
Sign and symptoms of perinatal depression and anxiety:
- Exhaustion
- Sleep disturbances
- Greater emotional responses
- Hormone imbalances
- Weight changes
All the given above symptoms are usual during or after pregnancy, but these indications may also be symptoms of depression.
PMADs can affect women of any culture, age, family income, or ethnicity. Symptoms can occur at any time during the two-year period between conception and the first birthday of the child. Symptoms may appear gradually or suddenly. Changes in genetics, physiology, climate, and attitudes trigger perinatal symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Can it be Cured?
Yes, PMADs are temporary mood and anxiety disorders that can be handled with a mixture of self-care, support systems, psychotherapy, and, if possible, prescription.
In addition, First-trimester depression and anxiety are quite common.
A number of women feel very low because they are addicted to some kind of uneven habits before pregnancy. For example, a lot of women drank a lot of alcohol and smoked a lot of cigarettes on a night out, before they found out pregnant. These really make them tense.
Exposing a growing baby to alcohol and the toxins in cigarette smoke on a regular basis is far more likely to cause harm than exposing the baby to one case. However, it is best for your baby if you stop alcohol and cigarettes for the remainder of your pregnancy.
Secondly, they have a miscarriage before and that’s afraid of having another one. Bear in mind, though, that having one miscarriage does not make it more likely that you will have another. A miscarriage is a one-time occurrence for the percentage of women, and most females who have had an abortion go on to have a natural birth afterward.
Antenatal anxiety and depression:
Each expecting parent experiences antenatal anxiety and depression in their own unique way.
Some of the most common signs and symptoms include:
Panic attacks: racing heart, palpitations, and shortness of breath, trembling, or a physical sense of being cut off from your surroundings.
Consistent, widespread worry, frequently centered on concerns about the baby’s health or well-being. The emergence of obsessive or compulsive behaviors
- Mood shifts that occur suddenly
- constantly exhausted and drained of energy
- Having little to no interest in any of the ordinary pleasures.
- Either too much sleeps or not getting enough sleep
- Intimacy is losing its appeal.
- being quickly frustrated or upset
- Finding it difficult to concentrate, focus, or remember things.
It can be especially difficult to express these feelings and thoughts. However, it is more important for those around you to be aware of your challenges so that they can assist you in your rehabilitation. And if you are having some of these symptoms, or others that are affecting your emotional or mental health to the extent of not being able to work day-to-day, then it’s time to seek help.
Post-Partum Anxiety And Depression:
Most of the mothers encounter baby blues after delivery.
Symptoms:
- Worrying excessively
- Dreadful emotions speeding ideas
- Inability to concentrate
- Alterations in food and sleeping habits
- Feeling dizzy
- Flashes of heat
- Thoughts of suicide
- Nausea
Treatment:
There are two main approaches. The first is based on medication and the other is the non-medication approach.
Medication for Depression and Anxiety
- Pregnant women with a history of anxiety or depression can encounter tough and perplexing decisions about whether or not to take antidepressants or other drugs to treat their signs and symptoms.
- Girls are more prone than men to suffer from anxiety disorders and depression, and pregnant women are not exempt. Symptoms may emerge or intensify during or after pregnancy, while some women experience fewer symptoms whilst pregnant. Women may suffer from both anxiety and depression at about the same time.
- If you’re pregnant or thinking about starting a family, talk to your therapist, psychiatrist, and gynecologist about your options and any questions you have. They will help you improve or change your treatment plan. You may also seek advice from a doctor who specializes in the treatment of pregnant and postpartum women.
Medicine is Safe or Not?
- Any treatment regimen has risks and rewards, and the risks are especially concerning for pregnant women. Some medications are transferred from mother to unborn child in the same way as specific nutrients are passed to the fetus as food is consumed.
- Certain birth defects are two to three times more common in babies born to mothers who took the SSRI drugs Paxil and Prozac early in pregnancy. Even though the probability of such birth defects has risen, the actual risk is still very low.
- Similarly, certain medications used to treat depression in pregnant women have no such side effects. Information can be found here.
Antidepressant use has been linked to preterm birth in studies, but further research is needed to determine if antidepressants or other associated factors like depressed mood, maternal obesity, or socioeconomic stress are the more direct causes.
Nevertheless, taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, during the third trimester has indeed been linked to a higher risk of pulmonary hypertension in newborn babies, a rare condition in which oxygen flow through the lungs is limited. However, some research suggests that the risk is even less than 1% if a mother takes SSRIs during the third trimester. The use of SSRIs may increase the risk of birth defects. It also strongly encourages women to talk with their medical care professionals if they are seeking treatment for distress to decide the most suitable treatment plan during pregnancy.
Even, women should not feel it is safe to avoid taking their anxiety or depression medicine as early as they figure out they’re pregnant; doing so may lead to a worsening of symptoms, which can do worse harm to the child and mother than taking medication.
Non-Medicinal Approaches
Therapies for mild to moderate depression in pregnant women have been shown to be successful.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy in which a trained therapist teaches new ways to manage thoughts and emotions.
- Omega-3 essential fatty acids, found in foods like oily fish and walnuts, will improve your mood naturally.
- A person is exposed to artificial sunshine at various times of the day during light treatment to help alleviate depressive symptoms.
- Acupuncture is a Chinese procedure that entails inserting tiny needles into specific parts of the body in order to affect mood.
- Even something as simple as a 10-minute walk will help to relieve anxiety. According to studies, people who exercise on a daily basis are 25% less likely to experience anxiety or depression.
- Consume whole, unprocessed foods. A body of evidence suggests that what you eat has a significant impact on your mental health. Eating a well-balanced diet, which includes nutrient-dense, whole, and unprocessed foods such as fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, dairy, and whole grains rather than refined and fast foods, is thought to promote healthy bacteria in the gut, which can help to reduce anxiety.
- Create a network of people who can support you. Spend time with other parents who have been through the process or with friends who are also expecting. You may also enter an online support group to communicate with people who are going through similar experiences.
- Make time in your day to unwind. Daily meditation and acupuncture have been found to help people with anxiety, according to scientists. Alternatively, try yoga, music, or a massage from a therapist or even your girlfriend.